Celebs

The BBC picked up on a story in the Chosun Ilbo that celebs under 25 could be banned from leading teenagers astray by advertising booze. A bill proposing the clamp-down was passed by the National Assembly’s committee on health and welfare on 23 April. Reportedly prompted by Kim Yu-na’s Hite advertisements in 2012 (when she […]

Last year at London Fashion Week, Burberry Prorsum fielded a few members of Girls’ Generation at their show. This year, at their September show, they get Jeon Do-yeon. Source: Joongang Daily, 18 September 2013

Rain is still on a no-show as a witness in the lawsuit against him by a fashion company investor citing that he is a soldier. But as he has had time to meet his girlfriend Kim Tae-hee, this excuse is not going down too well. This case is related to the debacle back in 2010 […]

It’s going to be one of those years. If you hadn’t already guessed from the propofol and Park Shi Hoo case, the rather dirty side of K-pop and celebrity has started to show itself. The propofol investigation has almost reached its conclusion. Still limited to four celebrities, Hyun Young, who had it administered 42 times, […]

The Park Shi-hoo scandal, as predicted, still has a lot of mileage. The full Kakao talk conversations between the trainee and her actor friend have been released by his law firm. They indicate the trainee and her friend were in communication after she had filed charges – contrary to her claims they were not. The […]

The main dominating news this week has been the Park Shi-hoo alleged sexual assault case. Netizens and media alike have pounced on the story like a starving dog and there have been a number of stories, gossips and accusations relating to the case (and not to the case). Various text messages have apparently been obtained […]

Yes, it’s nice to see Lee Young-ae back. But why do the people who put full page Dokdo ads in the American press feel the need also to promote Korean food in similar fashion? Aren’t Michelle Obama and Gwyneth Paltrow doing that for free? Still, I can’t think of a better spokesmodel for hansik than […]

Last year, Kara. This year Lee Byung-hun is releasing a doll of himself. But why does he need two heads? The doll comes with an extra attachable head among other add-ons, and according to the agency, will hit stores in Korea next year. The Joongang Daily doesn’t really explain why.

Sorry for the late news this weekend – technical issues with my machine and work related exhaustion. On that note though – if there is anything you would like me to focus on more – please do let me know in the comments. Se7en is holding a series of concerts this month in Japan before […]

For anyone up in the early hours of Friday morning, Tablo was being interviewed on the BBC about Kpop and what influences him. The interview can be found on the BBC website or YouTube for those of you who, like me, ware asleep at the time. Sadly the clips have been getting some negative comments […]

In the second of four round-ups of links to news which caught our eye in 2012, we focus on hallyu-related stories from around the world, some of the local entertainment industry stories plus a quick look at the film industry. UK. The Guardian put together an entertaining photoshop when London Mayor Boris Johnson claimed he […]

It’s been a quiet week in comparison to the first two of the year, but it looks like there is some interesting music on its way. Hip Hop legend Tiger JK, his wife Yoon Mi Rae (aka Tasha) and Bizzy are forming a new project group called MFBTY (‘My Fan Better Than Yours’), releasing an […]

In 2008 Choi Jin Shil, a popular actress, committed suicide after threats and pressure from netizens and from her personal life. Two years later in March 2010 her brother committed suicide, and now on 6th January 2013 her ex husband Jo Sung Min also took his own life in the same manner. A former basketball […]

Its only the first week of January and the Korean media is already buzzing with a heap of scandal. First off the bat is Rain who enlisted in the army in March 2012, and joined the Defence Media Agency (DEMA) like many other stars before him. Whilst not having used up his three official holiday […]

The seventh eclectic and highly personal commemoration of the best of the past year. Personality of the Year Runner up There were plenty of personalities in the South Korean Olympic team, particularly the pistol shooters, archers and the gymnasts. But the athlete that everyone will remember is fencer Shin A-lam, cheated out of a place […]

We gave it a rest last year, but we’ve brought it back for 2012: the LKL Quiz of the Year, featuring some of the top celebrity stories of the year, as well as one or two from the business and cultural pages. Some, but not all, of these stories might have been featured on LKL […]

Well, GQ Korea says it’s SiSTAR, but the girl group was picked “because there were not many other options.” Actor Ha Sung-woo was man of the year. Needless to say, Kim Ki-duk and PSY also get mentioned.

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It seems the Boys Republic gig in Islington on 4 July went down well with the audience. The Korean Class Massive has a detailed account of the evening on their blog, and loads of photos on their Facebook page. Sounds like a good evening. (25-Jul-15)

It’s the second Saturday in July, so it must be the Korean Food Fest at New Malden’s Fountain pub. 11 July 2015, from shortly before noon, but check with the pub for the exact time. There will be some familiar faces providing musical entertainment during the course of the day. Kayageum / guitar duo Kaya […] (08-Jul-15)

Lt Col James Power Carne of the Gloucestershire Regiment appears on a new Korean postage stamp, part of a set of ten issued to mark the 65th anniversary of the start of the war. The BBC regional website for Gloucestershire has the full story. (05-Jul-15)

These gigs seem to pop up from nowhere – unless you’re plugged into the fan network I guess. As of now, ten days to go before the gig, the venue hasn’t been given much information, and we’re left to google / guess that the support act, Choi Soo Min, is the ex-boxer turned crossover pianist. […] (24-Jun-15)